It was just a week ago at this time I was heading down from Flattop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park as the final hike in the Hike for Discovery program.  Yes it is not even 9am right now as I write this, but on hike weekend I received a 3am wake-up call so we could depart Estes Park and head up towards Bear Lake and the trailhead at 3:30am.  Knowing the hike would be something different it wasn’t easy to sleep in addition to all the commotion around the hotel in the early morning hours.

As the van headed towards the trailhead in the morning darkness the stars were quite bright outside the window, even leading to a little singing from the two girls from the Arizona chapter (Cherie and Talia) taking part on our hike.  Yes the song being song was "the stars at night are big and bright…", which was dedicated to Monica from the North Texas chapter also hiking with us.  The other hikers in our group were Jay from Illinois, and Jeff and Vicki from the Rocky Mountain group giving us seven hikers and a couple of guides for the nearly 3,000 feet elevation gain to Flattop.

As we did the final preparations at Bear Lake it was dark and empty, but at 20 minutes past 4 we started out towards the top of Flattop Mountain with our headlamps leading the way.  Hiking a little bit along the lake we soon made a turn off the trail and started to rise in the darkness.  We stopped for a little bit to adjust layers as it was starting to get warm as we hiked.  It was quiet with the sound of the wind blow apparent even below treeline.

Starting to climb out of the trees the wind was picking up and it was now time to put layers back on as it was getting cold.  Also at this time you could start to see the hints of morning as twilight started to show.  We were still about two miles away from the top and I knew it would be a cool finish to the hike as the wind was howling and the coldest part of the day was now here, the period before sunrise.  Also with some clouds on the east horizon we would have to wait a little bit prior to getting the full benefits of the morning sunrise.

Going back and forth on some switchbacks we were treated with a view of Emerald Lake from high above it, but trying to minimize the stops was the key at this time since it was getting quite cool especially with the wind howling.

We pressed on and finally got into some sun as we approached the top of Flattop making the hike a little better, but the wind was the main element to fight by this time instead of the 12,000 feet elevation.

Around 8am we arrived to the top of the mountain and decided based on the conditions it didn’t make sense to climb the next part to Halletts Peak as it was quite windy (40 mph) and cool.  You could also see the condition 300 feet above on Halletts would be worse, especially having to scramble our way to the top.  We did walk over towards the saddle and looked at the surroundings.

Now that we had made the destination of Flattop Mountain we started back down and had the wind behind us for the most part.  Trying to get back below treeline was the goal sooner than later as it would be a little warmer by then.

As we continued down, people were heading up the trail with some prepared and others probably not for the conditions they would encounter on the top of Flattop.

Once at Bear Lake it was a different scene as families were out hiking around the lake and we were still somewhat bundled up from the hike we had just completed.  It also wasn’t even noon and it seemed more so like afternoon due to the early morning.  However it was a quite sense of accomplishment after spending almost three months hiking, and fund raising for this event.

For the Hike for Discovery event at Rocky Mountain National Park 55 hikers from six different chapters raised over $250,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  It is still not too late to donate if you have not done so at this time.  You may donate by visiting the Neil Corman Hike for Discovery Donation page .

I would like to thank you everyone who supported my hiking this summer and more so the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Lastly, Hike for Discovery will take place in 2009 under the Team in Training name with two seasons planned.  If this is something which interests you, contact your local Leukemia & Lympoma Society office and ask to be notified when the information sessions will take place.

The final Hike for Discovery group hike brought us to Camp Dick just west of Peaceful Valley and not to far south of the border of Rocky Mountain National Park .  The planned hike for this day was around 16 miles or so, starting on the Buchanan Trail towards Lake Gibraltar.  The group split up into two along the route and we made our way towards the Lake situated 8 miles up the trail.  As we navigated up the trail we stopped at the junction of Trail #910 and a path leading to a 4×4 road.  Heading further up the trail we entered into the Wilderness area and finally onto the St. Vrain Glacier Trail .  Following the trail along one of the tributaries to the St. Vrain river we continued hiking and ended up going through a boulder field which soon led to a creek crossing without a bridge.  At first the group looked for a crossing, but after a little while a makeshift crossing was made which looked a little sketchy at best.

Knowing it was the week prior to the final hike, I played it safe and retreated with part of the group and hiked to Red Deer Lake.

The trail to Red Deer Lake took us back the mile from the last trail junction and then up to the lake, which was just under two miles further from the junction.  Once at the lake we stopped for some lunch and snacks prior to started about a 6 mile hike back to the trailhead at Camp Dick.

Those miles back to the trail head seemed to take quite a while, but after a few hours we were back after a nice day of hiking over 15 miles.  It was a memorable hike, and one which got us psyched up for the following week at the trip to RMNP.  But there was also no rain or threat of rain present at all during the day which was a nice change.

After rain being part of the Hike for Discovery group hike the prior two weeks it was nice to see some dry conditions as we set off for Evergreen and hiking at Evergreen Mountain and Alderfer/Three Sisters Park part of the Jefferson County Open Space trail system.

We started out by heading up to Evergreen Mountain, as there was a chance of storms rolling in as well on this day.  Being only at 8,000 feet we weren’t as worried but in the back of our minds it was something which could be there especially after the soaking hikes earlier in the month.  Hike on the trails we quickly ascended to the summit loop which is still in the trees.  On Evergreen Mountain it is hard to tell the exact high spot, but we made our own decision as Jeff graced the top of the peak for a look.

Looking towards the southwest there was also a view of Mount Evans , and looking carefully you could make out the Mount Evans Road as it progressed towards Summit Lake.

Heading down the mountain we crossed the road separating the two sides and hiked around the three sisters area, as well as the brother stopping for a brief snack.

Once back on the trail I looked up and noticed some type of animal maybe 100 meters away, and then saw it move.  At first I thought it may have been a dog, but on second look and notifying the other hikers with me I called it out as a red fox.  We were hiking towards it on the trail as it bee-lined a different direction.  Passing over the final hill, we started to hear thunder once again a three straight week but as we got back to the parking lot is just briefly started to rain, nothing compared to the other weeks.  After this hike there are only two weeks left to the big hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Well after the storm moving in last week while hiking Pawnee Pass, all eyes were on the weather during the week.  Initially we were going to hike from the Hessie Trailhead and head towards Rollins Pass and the divide, however a system moved into Colorado the day before bringing constant rain and snow easily to 10,000 feet on Saturday morning.  So instead of doing that hike we met in Boulder and planned the Triple Peak Challenge or at least part of it.  Arriving at the park and ride we normally use it was pouring but it did start to let up, with rain and temperatures near 50 that morning it was going to be an interesting hike.

We arranged carpools (not the original idea of we all drive on our own since it wasn’t too far) and headed to the parking lot at NCAR where we would start.  As the rain progressed and the weatherproofing of the group was challenged we hiked around the many trails in the area.  While looking back at one trail it appeared to be letting up and the sky clearing.

We started hiking on the trail and of course it quickly started to pour once again.

As we started to climb we stopped and made a determination that people were drenched already and it probably wasn’t wise to push forward after about two hours already on the trail.  As we headed back down it was only 10am but it appeared to be much darker.

Back at the parking lot we decided to head to breakfast or lunch, which ended up being breakfast as the lunch place wasn’t open at 11am.  After breakfast we headed across the parking lot to the other spot for a few pitchers and continue to dry off.  Once we left, the rain was gone and the clouds lifting once again and we joked we could have hiked after all.

In early August our Hike for Discovery group hike took us on Pawnee Pass, which starts from Long Lake in the Brainerd Lake Recreation Area near Ward, Colorado.  About a mile into the hike we stopped and from that point moving forward were timed for how long it would take us to hike the next mile which is used to help place us for our final hike.

This next mile got us to Lake Isabelle where we stopped and had a brief clinic on lightning safety as storms could easily move in on days like this.  As we left the spot we started to climb towards Pawnee Pass on the Continental Divide.

Once at the pass we stopped for some lunch as it was just before noon.  Enjoying the nice skies we decided that there may be some rain coming in soon but nothing to be too worried about.

We thought about the next direction to go with those in our group and instead of heading up to Pawnee Peak, it was down to Pawnee Lake.  The trek to Pawnee Lake is less than two miles with about around 1500 feet of elevation loss.

I drew an arrow above where a fellow hiker is in the image along the trail.  As I wasn’t feeling up to it, I started to head back up towards the Pass after just going shy of a half mile to try to meet with the other hikers who should be there by that time.  We also started to notice at that time the clouds were starting to move in and being at the divide it was hard to determine what was happening exactly since we couldn’t see the east side.  When I started up back towards the pass, I radioed down that it was getting dark and the other hikers were starting to head back up by that time as they noticed it as well.

Crossing back over the pass the darkness was aparent, and what was troubling was upon starting to head off the peak other hikers not in our group were still coming up to the pass.  Not the brightest decision based on the skies.

Anyways, I got about a half mile from the pass and it started to rain, and within 5 minutes it was pouring all the way back to the car.  With the uncertaintly of lightning in the area, I started moving quickly and grabbed one of my trekking poles out of my pack to help going over the slick rocks.  I had also thrown on my rain jacket, but didn’t stop for the rain pants.  Close to four miles later I was beyond soaked and miserable like a lot of others I met back at the parking lot from our group.  Within 15 minutes the rest of the group showed up and were all safely back, but it was quite ironic earlier in the morning we had lighning safety.

The Hike for Discovery group hike to Jasper Lake took place in mid-July as it was possible to get into the higher altitudes since the snow had finally melted in most areas.

We headed to the Hessie trailhead which was quite full by the time we arrived leading us up the road towards the Fourth of July trail head and campground.  Realizing we needed to be around the Hessie trailhead a 3 point turn on the road with a steep drop off took place.  I was driving but the person in the front passenger seat was scared of heights and not seeing the drop off or anything over the front of the hood was not going well.  I told her to look up towards Eldora ski resort , sort of above us but she just closed her eyes instead.  The 3 point turn was about a 5 or 6 point turn in reality just to be safe.

Once we got the parking situated and got on the trail we crossed a bridge and were on our way towards the lake.

Making our way up to the lake we passed fields of wildflowers in full bloom as the season was a little behind.  This let some people see the Columbine (Colorado state flower) for the first time as well.

As we approached Jasper Lake there was some snow on the trail, which lead to some snowballs flying in the warm middle of July day.

Stopping for lunch at the lake we then headed back down the trail, making a slight detour to Lost Lake.  Unofrtunately on the trail down one of our trail captains fell and twisted her ankle.  She was able to make it out just fine but skipped the additional mileage to Lost Lake.

Being closer to the Hessie trail head there were more people at Lost Lake, but still it was quite empty for such a beautiful area.

Having found Lost Lake we continued back to the trailhead and off to dinner/drinks in Nederland .  It was quite a long day of hiking but an entertaining day as well with one of the first memorable quotes of the hike season stated at dinner in Ned.